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Department 56: A History

One Christmas evening, a group of friends set off to enjoy a dinner of celebration at a small country inn nestled in a quiet river town. As they rounded a bend in the road, they saw the small, old-fashioned village decorated for the holidays. The lights, like fairies, glowed and sparkled amid the freshly fallen snow. All evening, the conversation was full of Christmas memories and the visions the tiny town had evoked. Amidst the jovial banter and magical memories, the idea for a lighted Christmas village was born. That spark of an idea became a reality when, in 1976, Department 56 introduced a series of six hand-painted, ceramic buildings. The rest is history.

The company behind the villages.

Some twenty-five years ago, Department 56 began as part of Bachman's, a premiere retail florist in Minneapolis. Bachman's used a numbering system to identify each of its departments. The number assigned to wholesale gift imports division was, you guessed it, 56.

The building of a village: An historic events calendar.

1976: The foundation of Department 56 took shape with the introduction of six charming, lighted, ceramic buildings. These six premiere items were the beginnings of The Original Snow Village®.

1979: The original Original Snow Village designs were retired in order to accommodate 12 new introductions as well as the appearance of the first Village accessories.

1984: The concept of The Heritage Village Collection® was developed. The first release was The Dicken's Village Series®, a collection of seven nostalgic shops and a church. All designed to capture the spirit of Christmas in Victorian England.

1986: The New England Village Series and The Alpine Village Series® were added to The Heritage Village Collection. That same year, the world of Snowbabies™ bisque figurines was introduced.

1987: The Heritage Village collection continued to grow with the addition of the hustle and bustle of Christmas in the City® and the inspiring Little Town of Bethlehem™.

1990: The legend of Santa became a part of the Department 56 tradition with the addition of The North Pole Series™ to The Heritage Village Collection.

1994: This year brought the introduction of The Disney Parks Village Series™ and Snowbunnies®.

1995: Our first successful marketing program, "Homes for the Holidays", encouraged new collectors to start a tradition for themselves.

1997: The 10th anniversary of Snowbabies was celebrated with the creation of the Snowbabies Freindship Club™. The Classic Ornament Series was also introduced, giving collectors a new way to enjoy classic pieces long since retired.

1998: The first year-round village, Seasons Bay™, makes a splash onto the marketplace, representing a late 19th-century American resort town. Elf Land™, an extension of the North Pole Series™, was also introduced as a suburb where the elves lived and played after the holidays.

1999: In May, the first-ever corporate retail store opened in the Mall of America in Bloomington, Minnesota, a move that enhanced both brand and product profile. And for the first time, Department 56 introduced pieces that included exquisite interior detail.

2001: This year, Department 56 and The Original Snow Village® Collection both turned 25. To commemorate those twenty-five wonderful years, we invited all our friends and collectors from across the United States and Canada to a spectacular Silver Anniversary Celebration in St. Paul, Minnesota. Many special edition pieces and limited items were designed just for this momentous occasion. A grand time was had by all.

Department 56 Globe Theatre

Department 56

Please note: We deal in Department 56 as a secondary market.  All items are pre-owned and come with original box & pigtail light unless otherwise stated.
All Items 25% off. Discount appears at Checkout!
New England Village Series Price Item Number
Size
 Introduced Retired

Craggy Cove Lighthouse

$75.00

5930-7 7.5 x 6 x 7.5 12/1987 12/1994

Sleepy Hollow Church

$75.00

5955-2 9 x 5.5 x 7 12/1990 12/1993

Arlington Falls Church

$58.00

 5651-0 7 x 6 x 10'' 05/1994 12/1997

McGrebe-Cutters & Sleighs 

 $75.00 5640-5 6.25 x 4 x 7.5 12/1991 12/1995
The Original Snow Village Price Item Number Size Introduced Retired

Knob Hill
[No Box. No Light.] 

$350.00 5055-9 ---- 12/1979 12/1981

Gothic Farmhouse

 $125.00 5404-6 8.25 x 6 x 7'' 12/1991 12/1997

St. Luke's Church

 $75.00 5421-6 7.5 x 6 x 11'' 12/1992 12/1994
Dickens Village Series
Item Number
Introduced
Retired

C H Watt Physician 

 $50.00 5568-9 5 x 5.25 x 4 12/1990 12/1996

Flat Of Ebenezer Scrooge [Addition to “Christmas Carol” grouping]

 $75.00 5587-5 4 x 3 x 8 12/1989 12/2001

King's Road Post Office

 $99.00 5801-7 6 x 4.75 x 7 12/1991 12/1998

Tutbury Printer

 $60.00 5569-0 7 x 4.5 x 3.5'' 12/1990 12/1996
Alpine Series Price
Item Number
Size
Introduced
Retired

Bahnhof 

 $135.00 5615-4 8 x 6 x 7'' 12/1990 12/1993